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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with PGA officials when presented with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, August 10, 2014. (REUTERS)

On Sunday, in the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, he went blow-for-blow with all his contenders could muster up. And as the lights went down on the 96th PGA Championship – one of the most entertaining majors in a long while -- McIlroy proved that he is the game’s current undisputed heavyweight champion.

It was his fourth major victory, making him the youngest to have accomplished that feat in the modern era behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, respectively. His second PGA Championship in three years came just three weeks after he completed the third leg of his career grand slam, and it also marked his third victory in three consecutive starts. He’s the first to win two consecutive majors since Padraig Harrington in 2008.

“I said I thought winning The Open Championship a few weeks ago had sort of put me on a higher level in this game,” an elated McIlroy said late Sunday. “But then to win a fourth major here, to be one behind Phil (Mickelson), one behind Seve (Ballesteros), level with Ernie (Els), level with Raymond Floyd; I mean, I never thought I'd get this far at 25 years of age.”

If he was on a higher level, what did this victory do for him?

“It's something that I'm just going to have to come to terms with in a way,” the level-headed youngster said. “I was happy being a two-time major champion coming into this year, and all of a sudden I'm a four-time major champion and going for the career Grand Slam at Augusta.

“Yeah, it has just been an incredible run of golf, and I just couldn't be more proud of myself or happier with where my game's at.”

In his other major victories – most notably the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA in which he lapped the field -- McIlroy had a bit more of a cushion. On Sunday, he came into the final round with a one-shot lead and talent-packed group chasing.

And he stumbled out of the gate while the others ate up the rain-soaked Valhalla following an almost two-hour rain delay. By the sixth hole, which McIlroy bogeyed, he was two shots down to Rickie Fowler and he was behind Henrik Stenson as well.

The young Northern Irishman showed his resolve, though, mounting a charge down the back nine that led to a one-shot victory over a 44-year-old Mickelson, who was chasing his sixth career major and second PGA Championship.

McIlroy eagled the 10th after a monster 3-wood into the green, and with a clutch birdie on the island green on 13 he moved into a four-way tie for the lead at 15-under. When everyone else faltered, McIlroy was the only one to make a birdie on the final five holes to seal it.

“I just knew,” McIlroy said of maintaining his confidence throughout the round. “I knew that I’d have my chance. I knew I’d have my chance to pull level with them or go ahead.”

Fowler became the only man other than Woods or Nicklaus to finish in the top 5 of every major in a season with his tie for third, but after having the outright lead on the 10th hole, he said “this is probably the one that hurts the most for me with the majors this year.”

Mickelson said it was his bogey on the 16th that did him in, his only blemish on a scorecard that included six birdies. He gave himself a chance on 18, almost holing his chip but it wasn’t to be.

Having been Woods’ main foil for all those years, he was asked how good McIlroy is.

A fourth major at the age of 25 puts McIlroy right there in the conversation with the great players. At the age of 25, Nicklaus had four majors and Woods had eight.

McIlroy is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the hall of fame, but he has to keep it going consistently to have this be considered his era.

“I try and put all this talk aside every time it comes up, but Tiger and Jack are two of the most successful players in our sport of all time,” McIlroy said. “I'm on a nice track at the minute and I'm on a nice path. I've still got a long way to go, but to be in their company at this age is very special.”

THE KID PLAYS THROUGH

In the rush to finish his PGA Championship-winning round as the sun set here Sunday night, Rory McIlroy raised a few eyebrows.

With some ominous clouds looming overhead and the sun fading quickly over Valhalla Golf Club, McIlroy rushed to the 18th tee and, with the blessing of Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson ahead, teed off.

With the ball in play, McIlroy would be allowed to finish the hole – thus saving everyone the headache of coming back out for a Monday finish – but he then played his second with Fowler and Mickelson still on the hole as well.